South Africa

(FXI/IFEX) – The Johannesburg High Court on 11 December 1997 granted a permanent interdict against the publication, sale, distribution and marketing of the book, “Kerzner Unauthorised”, about hotel magnate Sol Kerzner. The book, written by former journalist Allan Greenblo, includes details about various business dealings by Kerzner in South Africa and abroad as well as […]

(FXI/IFEX) – On 1 December 1997, the Pretoria High Court rejected with costs an application by media publishing house Times Media Limited and two journalists for access to the full bail hearing of the former head of South Africa’s chemical and biological warfare programme, Wouter Basson. In passing his ruling, Justice C. Botha said the […]

(FXI/IFEX) – On 3 December 1997, the Johannesburg High Court ruled that evidence in an application to ban the book, “Kerzner Unauthorised”, about hotel magnate Sol Kerzner, would be heard behind closed doors. The judge made the ruling despite the fact that neither of the parties had applied for the evidence to be heard in-camera. […]

(FXI/IFEX) – Lawyers acting for the premier of Mpumalanga province, Matthews Phosa, on 20 November 1997 served journalist Justin Arenstein with a letter claiming that, as a result of an article published in the “Mail & Guardian” (M&G) newspaper on 31 October, Phosa had suffered damages to the amount of R3-million (about US $600,000). The […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The “Mail & Guardian” (M&G) newspaper on 20 November 1997 defeated an attempt by Liberian businessman and former finance minister of that country, Emmanuel Shaw II, to block publication of further revelations about his activities. The case, which was heard in the Johannesburg High Court, stated that articles which appeared in the M&G […]

(FXI/IFEX) – A special parliamentary committee is investigating Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) Member of Parliament Patricia De Lille, who is accused of abusing her parliamentary privilege following an outburst on 22 October 1997 during which she named several top African National Congress (ANC) members as allegedly having been spies for the apartheid security forces. During […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The sale and distribution of the book, “Kerzner Unauthorised”, about hotel magnate Sol Kerzner, will likely remain suspended until late November when an application for a final interdict against the book will be heard in the Johannesburg High Court. Legal counsel for publisher Jonathan Ball Publishers, Clair Wright, told FXI that the publisher […]

(FXI/IFEX) – South African hotel magnate Sol Kerzner has succeeded in postponing the distribution of the book, “Kerzner Unauthorised”, which was expected to hit bookstores in South Africa on 27 October 1997. The book, written by former journalist Allan Greenblo, contains details about Kerzner’s personal life, including his divorce from former Miss World Anneline Kriel, […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The Open Democracy Bill (ODB), which is meant to provide a legislative framework for the constitutional right of access to information, will be published in the “Government Gazette” on 24 October 1997. Announcing this in Cape Town, the office of Deputy President Thabo Mbeki said the public would be given until 30 November […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The Pretoria City Council has reversed its decision to ban a poster advertising the services of the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of Pretoria (GLOP) and intended for display on municipal buses in the city. In a letter dated 8 September 1997, the council advised GLOP that its advertisement had been approved. However, the […]

A committee of censors in South Africa has banned, under Section 47 of the Publications Act, 1974, public viewing of the American movie “Kids”, on the grounds that it is “immoral and undesirable.” On 18 September 1996, South Africa’s Director of Publications, Dr. Braam Coetzee, said that the ban had been in effect since 6 […]

On 22 August 1996, police served subpoenas to Moegsien Williams, editor of “The Cape Times”, Shaun Johnson, editor of “The Argus”, Ebbe Dommisse, editor of “Die Burger”, numerous journalists at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and the Associated Press (AP), and members of the South African Press Association (SAPA). All were ordered to appear […]

According to the 21 April 1996 edition of “The Sunday Times”, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has banned three songs, claiming that their lyrics were “in bad taste” and would “cause offence.” Sung in the Afrikaans language, the songs are said to have contained swear words which are considered “undesirable” to some members of […]

Dr. Pallo Jordan, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting, was dismissed from his cabinet post on 28 March 1996 after a series of conflicts with President Nelson Mandela and other senior African National Congress (ANC) members. Jordan was a strong opponent of state interference in the broadcasting services and regularly opposed Mandela and fellow cabinet […]

Secrecy provisions within draft legislation for a commission to investigate human rights violations during South African liberation struggle have met strong criticism from non-governmental organisations and the families of some of the victims. Journalists’ and media freedom organisations are amongst those opposed to the bill, both because of the draft law’s secrecy clauses, but also […]